| 释义 |
sit-down, a. and n.
[The phrase sit down (see sit v. 23) used attrib. and as n.]
A. adj.
1. Of a meal: At which persons sit down; somewhat substantial or formal.
1836–7Dickens Sk. Boz, Tales xi, Jemima thought we'd better have a regular sit-down supper, in the front parlour. 1897Westm. Gaz. 4 June 3/1 It seems that the Kitchen Committee..will have nothing to do with an organised sit-down banquet.
2. Of a fight: Determined, hard.
1853Jerdan Autobiogr. III. 18 It was a fair sit-down fight and keen encounter.
3. Of a strike, demonstration, etc.: in which persons sit down in a work-place, public building, etc.; also fig. Of a person: participating in such a strike or demonstration.
1936N.Y. Times 30 Jan. 7/6, 1000 workers of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company remained idle in a ‘sit down’ protest. 1936Sun (Baltimore) 2 Nov. 14/2 Claiming 2,300 men already were affected by a ‘sit down’ strike on eighteen ships, the insurgent seamen's defense committee tonight set out to extend its work embargo on all United States vessels in this port. 1937Times 25 Jan. 19/4 The General Motors Corporation has decided to remain in possession of such of its plants as are occupied by sit-down strikers. Ibid. 22 Nov. 12/5 ‘Business’ says it is hampered by Government interference and unwise taxation; the Government seem convinced that political enmity has provoked capital investors to a sit-down strike. 1940H. Brighouse Man who ignored War 23 You're on a sit-down strike, sitting there and saying to Hitler, ‘Go away, little man, I'm busy creating beauty.’ 1948Sun (Baltimore) 8 Apr. 1/6 A small bloc of Republicans is conducting a deliberate ‘sit-down strike’ on the ECA and other legislation in an attempt to block as much of the Administration's program as it can. 1958San Francisco Examiner 24 Aug. 1. 25/2 (heading) New sit-down battle in Jim Crow cafes. Ibid. 25/6 The ‘sit-down’ endeavor at Brown's [luncheonette] was the latest in a series which began Tuesday night. 1959Listener 15 Jan. 118/1 London Transport appeals for an end to sit-down strikes on the underground railways. 1960Washington Post 24 Feb. 33/7 White college students joined Negroes today in ‘sitdown’ lunch counter protests in Winston-Salem. 1960Sunday Express 18 Dec. 12/8 Bertrand Russell proposes to stage a ‘sit-down’ demonstration outside the Ministry of Defence. 1961Daily Tel. 18 Oct. 1/1 Four members of the anti-nuclear Committee of 100 staged a sit-down protest for over four hours last night in a sitting⁓room at the Russian Embassy in London. 1962Listener 15 Mar. 458/2 The reasonable sit-down demonstrator. 1972G. Durrell Catch me Colobus x. 221 Remember that animals and plants have no M.P. they can write to; they can't perform sit-down strikes..they have nobody to speak for them except us.
B. n.
1. a. An act of sitting down, esp. as an occasion of friendly or social intercourse. Also an opportunity to sit down and relax, and spec., a place where travellers habitually rest (see quot. 1898).
1861Mrs. Stowe Pearl of Orr's Island I. xii. 104, I am come here for a good sit-down by your kitchen-fire. 1878― Poganuc P. xiii. 111 After tea there came the genial hour of the social sit-down in front of the andirons. 1898Jrnl. Sch. Geogr. (U.S.) Oct. 315 At intervals of two miles [in Burma]..are ‘sit-downs’, generally a favorite tree selected because of its dense and wide spreading shade, beneath which all native travellers have their sit-down and smoke. 1932D. L. Sayers Have his Carcase iv. 56 ‘A nice sit-down in the lounge,’ said Wimsey, sitting down. 1937‘J. Bell’ Murder in Hospital i. 6 By the nurse's desk a constant stream came in with..heads done up in dirty, blood⁓stained rags..some with nerves on edge from witnessing so many..gruesome sights, some all the better for a good sit down. 1967N. Freeling Strike out where not Applicable 69 The sit-down had done his leg..some good. 1982J. Sherwood Shot in Arm iii. 32 If Verney wanted to go back..it would mean a sit-down and a cup of tea.
b. N. Amer. Tramps' slang. A free sit-down meal.
1919Dialect Notes V. 42 Sit-down, a meal sitting down. ‘A sit-down, with hot Java.’ 1926J. Black You can't Win vi. 67 She'll give you a sit-down for yourself, chances are, but bring back a ‘lump’ for us. 1927F. Niven Queer Fellows iv. 45 There must be houses where we could get a hand-out for sure... We might even get a sit-down. 1936New Republic 15 July 289/1 Upon the occasions referred to, ‘sit downs’, or invitations to eat at the family table, are more apt to be given.
c. A sit-down strike or demonstration.
1936N.Y. Times 2 Feb. 26/1 The Akron rubber industry's second ‘sit-down’ of the week was in progress today. 1938Times 23 May 13/4 About 1200 single unemployed men entered three Vancouver buildings..on Friday..and began a ‘sit down’ in order to obtain immediate work and wages. 1958Economist 1 Nov. 421/1 The Japanese government has long been irked by the failure of the police to deal effectively with demonstrators who stage sit-downs at American air bases and also inside government offices. 1960N.Y. Times 3 Apr. iv. 7/1 (caption) Negro students at Southern University in Louisiana apply at registrar's office to withdraw from the university to protest expulsion of classmates for lunch⁓counter sitdowns. 1961Guardian 3 Feb. 5/6, 1,200 volunteers..have so far agreed to take part in a sitdown outside the Ministry of Defence... The sitdown is in protest against the Polaris agreement. 1967Times 28 Feb. (Canada Suppl.) 34 Young Canadians have joined sit⁓downs against nuclear arms. 1972R. Thomas Porkchoppers (1974) xxvi. 228, I spent forty-one days in that place... It was a sit-down and the old man sent me in to sit with them. 1978Peace News 25 Aug. 3/1 The next day, 2,100 workers turned up for a ‘sit-down’, and another 300 were dismissed. 1982M. Wallace Brit. Govt. N. Ireland ii. 29 Measures to deal with street sit⁓downs and the occupation of public buildings.
2. sit-down-upons, trousers, breeches. colloq. (Cf. sit-upon.)
1840J. T. J. Hewlett P. Priggins viii, Some little damage from the splinters and tenterhooks to my sit down-upons. 1844― Parsons & Widows iv, [He] threatened to lower his sit-down-upons and apply the rod.
Hence ˈsit-downer, a participant in a sit-down strike or demonstration.
1936Time 30 Nov. 15/1 Most of the 4,300 workers obeyed, but 1,100 sit-downers sat pat. 1949Sun (Baltimore) 6 July 9/4 The local Communist association aided the sitdowners. 1960N.Y. Times 15 May 12e/1 (heading) Sit-downers score a quiet victory. 1961Guardian 27 Sept. 20/6 Lord Russell..has won the sit-downers' enthusiasm. 1963D. V. Baker Door is always Open ix. 187 We had finally reached Hyde Park, where the Committee had arranged for the sit-downers to meet before marching to Whitehall. |